Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-01-12
CONGRESSIONAL.
Coke Of Texas Makes a Strong Speech
in Favor Of the Interstate Com.
merce Bill.
Department of Agriculture and Labor.
CharIeston's appropriation.
XIX CONGRESS.
THE SENATE.

THE SENATE.
| WASHINGTON, Jan. 11.-Mr. Cameron
from the committe on military affairs, re-
ported bill for the relief of telegraph
operators during the war.
Mr.. Mitchell of Pennsylvania, from the
committee ON pensions. reported back
the senate bill to eqGalize pensions to be
paid to soldiers and sailors who had be-
come totally disabled.
Mr.. Hawley presented a memorial OF
some residents of Washi gton C, unity
! Texas, stating that they had been denied
their rights as citizens by the authorities OF
that county and appealing for redress to
the government of the Upited States.
Referred.
Cockrell, from the committee on mill
tary affiirs, reported back without
amendment the house bill to release to
the city of San Antonio, Tex, for use as
public thorougbfare, certain portions Of
the military reservation there, and on
motion of Mr.. Coke the bill was cUnsid-
cred and passed.
The senate then at 2 O'Clock resumed
consideration of the Interstate commerce
bill and was addressed by Mr.. Coke in
The intelligent judgment Of the coun-
try, he said, would approve it not be-
cause it was all that the people had the
right to demand, or because it gave them
Justice, but because it was the beginning
uf q good long step in the right direction,
which might be added to and supple
menUed in future, and might by the light
OF experience be perfected so as t. be alb
solutely right and effective. The bill
went no further than the English law
regulating railroads, except that the
latter did not prohibit pooling
but required such agreements to be sub
mitted 10 a court of commissioners, and
to be absolutely free from injury to the
interests OF the people. 1t was strictly in
line, too, with the principles of common
law. In conclusion he said it remained
to be seen whether corporate power was
SO intrenched in the senate that the pend
ing bill was to share the fate Of its pred
ecessor.
Mr. Harris, one of the three senate con-
ferees, made an argument in favor of the
bill. The country, he said, had for more
than ten years demanded, and still de-
manded, that the carrying trade be fairly
and Justly regulated by the government.
The construction sought to be given TO
the fourth section as to the long snd
short haul was simply absurd.
The plain meaning Of the section
was that carriers should not
demand q larger gross sum for hauling q
carload of grain or other freight over
part Of his line than he deman ed for
hauling 4 similar carload q the same
class of freight over It's whole line. One
effect Of it would be to put an end to
those ruinoVs competitions for through
freight known as "rate wars" Whe1 a
railroad company was made to under
stand that law prohibits it from charging
greatersum over part of its line than
it demanded for its whole line, it would
be somewhat reluctant 10 commit the
financial suicide involved in cutting
through freights, which were not IN
frequently fixed by angry, unreasonable
and reckless rate wars. 1t would allow
a fair and healthy competition and would
fix rates on its through trsffic that would
be the standard of it's maximum local
rates.
Mr.. Mcpherson asked Mr.. Harris
whether, in his opinion, the natural and
fleet OF the fourth section
would or would not be to increase
through rates.
Mr.. Harris: 81 am satisfied that the
effect OF the bill will be to prevent what
is known as rate wars, which has some
times reduced through rates ruinous
per cent, and this ought to be prevented,
but as TO honest, legitimate fair and
square through rates, there is not, in nv
opinion, single feature of the bill that
will necessarily increase through rates.
On the contrary, think the probabilities
are they will be lowered, but at all
events they will be uniform and stable"
Mr.. MCPHERSON: 81 am very much
obliged to the senator for that answer
He then addressed the senate in oppOsi-
ton to the bill, during which lively dis 4
cussion sprung up between Messrs Cam
den and MCPHERSON and AldTiCh and Har-
ris over the long and short-haul clause
Mr.. Salisbury spoke in favor Of the
bill.
Mr.. Cullom repeated the notice hereto
fore given by him that he would ask the
senate to remain in session tomorrow
till the bill was disposed Of
After executive sessi.n the senate ad-
journed.
TIE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. lion motion of
Mr.. Bragg of Wisconsin the senate
were concurred in on the
bill providing for school of instruction
for cavalry and light artillery.
Mr.. Willis Of Kentucky reported back
the river and harbor appropriation bill
and 1t was referred 10 the committee OF
the whole.
MI. Oates of Alabama from the committee
on revision of laws reported bill to pro-
hibit the appointment of congressional
TO attend funerals, at public
expense, outside the District of Columbia,
and also to prohibit the drsping of pub ic |
buildings in mourning, except upou4 the |
authority of the president.
In the morning hour the house resumed
In committee of the whole consideration
Of the bill for the erection of q public
building at Charleston, S. c. The bill ap.